Thursday Doors – Commonwealth Lake
The Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge at Dan Antion’s site No Facility for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post and then share a link to your post in the comments in Dan’s post.
In this post, I compared two lakes, one in my old city, and the other in my new city.
Commonwealth Lake is a man-made lake near Portland, Oregon. There is a 0.8-mile loop, and a great paved trail surrounds the lake. Many features of this lake are like Laguna Lake, near my former home in Southern California. Both lakes are man-made. Both lakes shape the same with the same distance loop around the lake. Both lakes are next to residential areas. Homeowners build large decks in their backyards with stair access to the lake. Both lakes are stocked up with fish for fishing lovers. There are differences between the two lakes. Laguna Lake is within walking distance of my California home. The trail is unpaved, and it’s for walking, hiking, and horse riding. Commonwealth Lake is further away from my current home. It has a paved trail and mostly, it’s a walking trail. I wanted to check it out for the possibility of going for a walk or taking my grandkids there to watch the ducks.
Commonwealth Lake is 4 miles from my home. I went there in the afternoon. By the time I finished walking, there was rush hour traffic. Instead of taking 11 minutes, it took me 17 minutes to get home.
The lake is part of a 20-acre park, but there’s no parking close to the lake. I parked in the neighborhood in front of a home. There are picnic tables and benches at the west end of this kidney shape lake. There are also benches along the trail. Bird watchers may find attractive birds here. Common birds are Canada geese, American wigeons, mallards, ruddy ducks, and other waterfowl. The lake is also stocked with trout several times in the spring by the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Fishing is welcome with a valid Oregon fishing license. There are several viewing platforms around the lake. They are also used as access points for fishing.
Will I drive 11 to 17 minutes to come here for a 15-minute walk? It’s less likely. There are two playgrounds, one for little kids and the other for bigger kids. Will I bring my grandkids here to play in the playground? I can find a better playground within a closer distance. The lake is beautiful. I would come more often if it were close by.
Thursday Doors – Commonwealth Lake
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The Showers of Blessings 
Looks serene. Did you see much for birdlife?
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Sure looks beautiful, Miriam. I love that the Portland suburbs have so many lakes and trails. My cousin’s place in Tigard has wonderful trails and one leads to Woodard Lake and Park. I walked around there the last time I was there in September. Love that horsetrail you show of Laguna Lake!
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I love all the lashes and parks here, Terri. I visited Summerlake Park the next day. It has other features like tennis courts and other sports. The playgrounds on both ends have restrooms. My daughter took the girls there with their bikes a few times. We may do the same later.
Have a great summer with your family.
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I’d never heard of Commonwealth Lake, Miriam. It does seem to have a lot in common with Laguna Lake. Too bad that it’s just a little far away for a quick stop. Could be nice for a picnic and walk and some time at the playground, though. 🙂 Just have to avoid rush hour which can be terrible around Portland. 🙂
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Oh yes, Diana. Hubby and I checked out Summerlake Park. It has more to do and it’s a little closer. Mercy said they went there a few times, so it’s a more popular park. 😊 The rush hour traffic is slow but moving around Portland. CA is a lot worse. Traffic could come to a halt. 🙃
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The Portland traffic seems terrible to me. It’s hard to imagine it any worse, but I have heard that CA traffic is awful.
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A quick search: “The average LA driver now spends over 100 hours every year stuck in traffic. That number is climbing quickly and stands as some of the worst traffic in the entire world. Nov 14, 2020”
The problem is more than that. People can’t afford to buy homes close to their work. We once bought a new home before that area had a zip code. It also meant I drove one and a half hours each way to work, not including the time being stuck in traffic.
One Thanksgiving, we met at Lynton’s sister’s house. We got there two hours late. We were the one with the turkey!! I asked him not to sign up to bring turkey in the future!
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Wow, Miriam. Now I know why audiobooks and podcasts are so popular. That’s a lot of time to be sitting in traffic. I don’t know if I could deal with it, though I suppose people often don’t have much of a choice.
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You’re right, Diana. Many people don’t have a choice. One person drove an hour and a half each way on his motorcycle to work. After he had a couple of accidents, his wife made him quit. Another lady also had a secretary job. She drove even further and worked until she retired. When we looked at the 20 to 40 miles of traffic, we were glad to have retired.
The lifestyle is very different in Portland. My daughter got a new job working downtown. She parks her car close to a bus stop and takes the bus to work. In LA, it’s impossible to take the bus or train to work. I can’t believe it’s far behind us now.
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So gorgeous Miriam and they look like a wonderful outing for the grandkids. I have to get to Oregon eventually! 💗
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When I first came to visit my daughter years ago, I could smell the green as soon as I stepped out of the plane. I’m used to it now and it becomes normal. 💖
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Oh what a wonderful thing! 💗
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The air is fresh. It was 80+ degrees today but I didn’t feel hot because of the trees around. 💖
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Both lakes are lovely but when you have to get in your car and drive somewhere in order to enjoy a walk, it does tend to happen less often.
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Both lake locations are beautiful. Looks like your new one is much more green and lush. It is good to see you have settled into your new home and are enjoying your grandchildren!
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You’re right, Dwight. The lakes in Portland, OR are more lush with green and a clear sky. We have settled into our new home after almost six months. It’s been wonderful to be close to the grandkids.
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Yes, it is, We made that move twelve years ago.
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Oh, did you live in Portland before that?
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Oh no, I meant to be closer to our grandchildren! :>)
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Oh, how wonderful!
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It is great to be close by!
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I know! It’s the same here!
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The lakes are beautiful, Miriam, and I like the photos of doors and gates. I remember living in Seattle near Greenlake and Woodland Park. We were within walking distance, and it made visiting so easy. When you have to pack up and drive, it does make it harder. But, beautiful green parks aren’t too hard to find in Oregon.
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You’re right, San. There are many beautiful green parks nearby. My husband went with me to check out another one today. My daughter went there with the girls a few times. We may take them there to ride their bikes around the lake and play in the playground.
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Both lakes are wonderful!
Wonderful photography.
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Thank you very much, Rajkkhoja! Both lakes are beautiful.
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Both lakes are beautiful! Wonderful photos. Love the first image especially.
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You’re right, Amy! Both lakes are beautiful. The clouds and clear sky in Portland make the first image better than the one in smoggy Southern California.
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A lovely post Miriam. I could feel the calming effect of lakes from your pictures. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you. I like water more than mountains, Balroop. It could be a nice place to get away for several hours.
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Great post and comparison, Miriam 🙂 Both beautiful spots, but I’m with you I’d be less likely to visit if I had to drive.
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They both are beautiful, Denise. It could be a nice place if I want to spend several quiet hours there. 🙂
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This lake area definitely opens doors to my imagination!
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That area is not busy. It would be a nice place to read or relax.
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It is lovely too bad it isn’t closer to you though.
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I know, Deborah! There’s another lake I can check out.
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😀
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These are both very pretty lakes. Too bad the driving and walking times are almost the same.
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Yes, both lakes are pretty, Lois! Summerlake Park is about the same distance. I can stop on the way to run errands. Commonwealth Lake is in the opposite direction. I’ll check out Summerlake soon.
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These look beautiful, Miriam
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Both lakes are beautiful, Toni.
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They’re both pretty lakes. Too bad Commonwealth isn’t closer/easier to get to .
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I love the tranquility of lakes of these two lakes, Priscilla! I wish Commonwealth Lake is closer.
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Very interesting contrasts between the two lakes.
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Thank you, Liz. Commonwealth Lake has better maintenance because blackberries grow around the lake and can be out of control. Interestingly, the gardening services here include the removal of blackberries and moss. I’m not too fond of moss on trees, especially on branches, because it blocks the growth of trees’ leaves or flowers. I’m trying to find a safe way to kill moss on trees.
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You’re welcome, Miriam. I didn’t know that about moss on trees.
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Moss is a problem here. The winter is too wet and long.
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It is quite lovely 🙂
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Both lakes are lovely, Brian. 🙂
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